In December a grandmother’s windowsill is at its fullest and under the most strain. Light is scarce, radiators dry the air and a frosty morning makes even the drive over with a pot plant a risk. We looked at which plants and accessories make a sensible Christmas gift for a mum or grandma who loves plants.
Winter narrows the choice. Most houseplants are resting, but a few flower right around the holidays and others can be bought now with spring in mind. Those are the plants worth wrapping, because they do not depend on summer light.
The other half of the decision is practical. A keen gardener rarely needs more plants. What she usually lacks is better conditions for the ones she has: more light, easier watering or space the windowsill no longer offers.
Good Christmas gifts for a mum or grandma who loves plants are an amaryllis bulb, a Christmas cactus, African violets, pots of rosemary, thyme and parsley for the kitchen windowsill, an LED grow light with a timer and a repotting kit for spring. The larger option is a vertical garden for nine plants. In frost, wrap plants in several layers of paper and never leave them in a cold car.
Which plants flower in winter and make a good gift?
For a winter present, choose plants that cope with December light or flower at this time of year. The table below sums up four reliable choices you will find in most garden centres and at many Christmas markets.
| Plant | Light | Temperature | Watering | Flowers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaryllis | bright window | 18–22 °C | moderate, once the compost dries | roughly 6–10 weeks after potting |
| Christmas cactus | bright, no midday sun | 15–20 °C | when the top layer is dry | November to January |
| African violet | bright, indirect | 18–24 °C | from below, lukewarm water | much of the year |
| Rosemary, thyme, parsley | brightest window | cooler, 10–18 °C | sparingly in winter | grown for the kitchen |
Amaryllis: a bulb that flowers after the holidays
An amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is one of the most dependable winter gifts. Plant the bulb with its top third above the compost in a pot only slightly wider than the bulb. Water very sparingly until the shoot appears, then more regularly.
Given as an unplanted or freshly potted bulb at Christmas, it will usually flower in late January or February. That puts the bloom in the greyest part of winter, after the decorations have gone back in the loft. Wax-coated bulbs flower without any water but are generally spent afterwards. The bulb is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of their reach.
Christmas cactus: do not move it once it has buds
The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is not a desert cactus. It comes from the coastal forests of south-eastern Brazil, dislikes midday sun and should not dry out completely. Water when the top of the compost feels dry.
Once it has buds, leave it where it is and do not turn it. A sudden change in light, temperature or a draught is the usual reason buds drop. Give it to grandma with a permanent spot already in mind.
African violets: the classic grandma windowsill plant
With enough light, African violets flower for much of the year and stay small. Water them from below with lukewarm water and pour away whatever is left in the saucer after about half an hour. Cold water splashed on the leaves causes pale marks.
If she has kept violets for years, a new colour or a self-watering pot is a welcome addition.
Herbs for the kitchen windowsill
Rosemary, thyme and parsley are a present she will use every Sunday lunch. In winter they prefer the brightest, slightly cooler window, not a sill directly above a radiator. Water rosemary sparingly in winter, as its roots rot quickly in wet compost.
Supermarket herb pots are sown very densely. Split each into two or three pots at home and they will last far longer. For keeping herbs going outdoors later in the year, see our guide to the balcony herb garden.
Which accessories help plants through the winter?
From November to February herbs get too little light even at a south-facing window. An LED grow light with a timer above a shelf of herbs or violets stretches the day to 10 to 12 hours and switches itself on and off. For a living room, choose a warm white light.
A repotting kit with good compost, a few pots with drainage holes, a hand trowel and gloves is a gift with a delay. Most houseplants are best repotted in spring, when they start growing again, so she will use it in March. In winter, repot only a plant that badly needs it.
Is a vertical garden a good bigger Christmas present?
If mum or grandma has run out of windowsill, a vertical garden solves exactly that. A vertical garden without drilling uses a telescopic pole clamped between floor and ceiling, so it suits rented flats too. It adjusts up to 285 cm.
It holds nine plants on less than one square metre of floor. Each pot has a 300 ml water reservoir, so watering once or twice a week is enough. In winter it can stand by a living-room window with orchids and houseplants; in spring it can move to the balcony for herbs. The Urban Planty Vertical Garden costs €149 with free shipping.
How do you wrap and carry a plant in frost?
Most houseplants come from warm climates. Even a short spell near freezing can damage the leaves, and the damage often shows only days later as dark, soft patches. A few simple steps protect a plant on a cold December morning.
- Wrap the plant and pot in two or three layers of newspaper or brown paper shaped into a cone, closed at the top.
- Stand the wrapped plant in a paper bag or a cardboard box so it cannot tip over on the way.
- Warm the car first and do not leave the plant in a cold car while you finish the rest of the shopping.
- Unwrap it as soon as you arrive and put it somewhere bright, but not right next to a radiator.
- Water only once the compost is dry. Wet compost in the cold chills the roots further.
When should you order a Christmas gift so it arrives in time?
In winter, living plants are best bought from a local garden centre or florist and carried home yourself. Parcel networks in freezing weather do them no favours. Order accessories and the vertical garden at least two weeks before Christmas, before the last-minute rush.
If you were after broader ideas for Mother’s Day or a birthday, we collected them in gift for mum who loves plants. The Christmas list is shorter because it has to work with short days and frost.
How do you choose for where she lives?
- Grandma in a house with cooler rooms: rosemary, thyme and a Christmas cactus, all of which are happy at around 15 °C.
- Mum in a warm, centrally heated flat: amaryllis, African violets and a grow light to make up for the missing daylight.
- A windowsill that is already full: a vertical garden or self-watering pots, not another plant.
- A mum who loves cooking: kitchen herbs and a bag of good compost for spring.
A good Christmas gift for mum and grandma is one that helps their plants through winter. Before buying, look at the windowsill. More often than not it lacks light or space, not another pot plant.
Frequently asked questions
Which plant makes the best Christmas gift for grandma?
The most reliable are a Christmas cactus and an amaryllis. Both flower in winter and need little care if they stand somewhere bright and free of draughts.
Why does a Christmas cactus drop its buds?
Usually because it has been moved, turned or exposed to a draught or a sudden change in temperature. Once buds form, keep it in one place.
When will an amaryllis given at Christmas flower?
An amaryllis usually flowers about six to ten weeks after potting. A bulb planted around Christmas will flower in January or February.
How do I carry a pot plant when it is freezing outside?
Wrap it in several layers of paper, stand it in a bag or box, travel in a warmed car and unwrap it on arrival. Never leave it in a cold car.
When should I order a Christmas gift online?
Order accessories and larger gifts such as a vertical garden at least two weeks before Christmas. Buy living plants locally in winter.
